“My life is over because of you,” Herc says, pointing a finger at Titus.
“He was helping us! You were a part of it just as much as he was. You could have said no,” I say. Titus rests a hand on my shoulder.
“Let him say what he needs to say to me, Cass,” Titus murmurs.
Herc finally looks at me. “You could have said no too! But no, you’re in love with the guy. You’ve never been able to reason things out when he’s around.”
All the oxygen leaves my lungs in a rush. When I’m finally able to speak, my voice is weak and watery because my twin just cut me off at the knees. “That was the most hurtful thing you have ever said to me.”
Herc’s eyes narrow at me. “You thinkI’mhurtful?”
“Yes!”
He laughs ruefully. “Wait until the U.S. Attorney’s office is done with you! They don’t go easy on you because you cry under pressure, little sister!”
“We’re in this together. I don’t know why you’re being such a dick.”
“Y’all.”
Herc and I turn to look at Titus, who has a wary smile on his face.
“You two wanna have a shouting match in public? Go to the Wal-Mart parking lot. This is an institution of higher learning. Show some decorum.”
I roll my eyes at his smart-ass comment. “Titus. You might want to cut the jokes and go inside.”
He’s not listening, of course, but he smiles broader as if none of this is a big deal. I swear he’s begging for Herc to punch him. “Nah. I don’t think I will. I want to tell this man to stop shouting at my girlfriend.”
That isn’t helping.
Neither is the fact that Titus pulls me backward and plants himself between Herc and me. I hate this so much. I hate when everybody’s mad.
“I didn’t come here to shout at my sister. I came here to give you a piece of my mind,” Herc seethes.
Titus chuckles. “Yeah? Let’s have it then.”
Herc answers this as if he’s rehearsed the words. “I want you to know that we are done letting you get us into trouble, Titus. We’re done with your jokes. Most of all, we are done with you wrecking everything. Cass has been in love with you since we were 13 years old, and you’ve taken advantage of that. You hold sway over her like a goddamn cult leader, so she’ll do whatever you say. And as a result of that, we could go to prison.”
Titus scoffs. “If you could get charged for stealing that money, then so could I. So maybe save your breath and take a look in the mirror. You’ve never said no, and you’ve been the instigator in at least half of the shit we used to pull in high school…and if you think….”
I cannot take the bickering for another second. I clap my hands and shout over the top of them, surprising them both enough to shut them up.
“Enough!”
Both Herc and Titus stare at me. My voice shakes. “Herc, we have to leave. Thanks to Leela, we have counsel who will be contacting us shortly to help guide us through what happens next. Titus? Don’t do anything stupid like set the Dean’s office on fire while we’re gone.”
He folds his arms over his chest. “I won’t because I’m going home with y’all.”
“Absolutely not,” Herc says, holding up both hands.
Titus has backed away from Herc and now faces me with his hand cupping my face. “Squeaks. I told you I would take care of you. I’m not sitting on my ass at school if you’re not here.”
“You need to stay in school.”
“College can wait,” he says as if it’s that simple.
“Not necessarily,” I reply.
He makes a dismissive noise with his lips. “Who says it can’t? I’m sticking with you, baby.”